Oklahoma’s Bradford looks like top pick

At worst, after beginning the predraft run-up projected as a fifth-rounder, Tebow is expected to be taken in the second round.

After months of tear-down and buildup of his revamped throwing motion, Tebow appears to have convinced many NFL people he can at least grow into being a pro quarterback.

In typical Tebow fashion, the devout Christian spoke humbly and confidently at the NFL Scouting Combine of all the talk about whether his success in college would translate to the NFL.

“Along the way, from Pop Warner to high school to college, there’s been a lot of times I’ve had to overcome things, and that’s one of the great parts of sports: overcoming obstacles and barriers and hurdles along the way,” he said. “In high school they said I couldn’t be a quarterback. I’ve come a long way since then. I’m just excited about all the opportunities and the blessings in my life. I’m just trying to handle it as best I can.”

As for Bradford, he is poised to cash in just less than six months after surgery to repair torn ligaments in his throwing shoulder. After a strong workout late last month, there are no concerns about his health.

“He’s a very dedicated athlete,” said renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, who performed the surgery on Bradford, on a St. Louis radio station last week. “There are some quarterbacks that I can go back to with that kind of dedication that Sam had during his recovery. Recently one of those quarterbacks was Drew Brees, for example. And Brett Favre. And Sam’s got that maturity. He really got himself in super shape during this recovery. He’s probably stronger than he’s ever been.”

(This is the fifth in a series of stories about the best players at every position leading up to the NFL draft April 22.)